Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/167

 through the streights to S. Georges Island, where we tooke of the foules before named, and after departed.

And thus wee passed by Cape Victorie out of the streights the 11 of Nouember, directing our conrse to the North-east, till the last of this moneth. What time wee arriued at an island which lyeth at the mouth of the riuer of Plate. Vpon this island there is such an infinite number of seales, as may seeme incredible to any man that hath not bene there, some of them being 16 foote long, not fearing the presence of men: for the most of our men were vpon the island, for the space of 15 dayes to set vp a Pinnesse, during which time the seales would come and slepe by them, and rather resist our men, then giue place, vnlesse mortall blowes forced them to yeelde.

When our Pinnesse was built, we went to another island, where wee did water, and afterward departed the first of Ianuarie 1579, and ran towards the North till the 20 of the said moneth, and then we arriued at an island which lieth on the coast of Brasil, neere to a towne called sant Vincent inhabited by the Portugals.

The sayd towne lyeth 24 degrees Southwarde, almost vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne. Here, by reason of foule weather we lost our Pinnesse, and 8 men in her, and neuer saw them since.

Here also our ship was in great danger, by the meanes of a strong current, which had almost cast vs vpon the shore before wee were aware, insomuch that we were constrained to anker in the open sea, and brake our cable and lost an anker, and presently let fal another anker; in weighing whereof our men were sore spoiled. For the capstan ranne about so violently with the rising of the shippe in the sea, that it threwe the men from the barres, and brake out the braines of one man: one other had his legge broken, and diuers others were sore hurt.

At last wee gote vp our anker and set sayle, and ran into a place called Tanay, where we roade vnder an island and tooke in wood and water.

And while we stayed here, there came 3 Portugals aboord vs in a canoa, to knowe what wee would haue, or of what countrey we were. To whom our Captaine made answre: that we were Englishmen, and had brought commodities for their countrey, if they would trafficke with vs: whereat they greatly marueiled